David Ahlin

Tass have published Russia's memorandum, which it refused to hand over to Ukraine until the peace talks in Istanbul today. The demands basically amount to surrender, regime change, and putting Ukraine back in Russia's grip. They are: 1) Ukraine withdraws from four partially occupied regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia) and lets Russia have them. "International recognition" follows. 2) Ukraine pledges never to join any military alliances or coalitions (NATO etc). No foreign boots on the ground or military infrastructure either. 3) Any current or future efforts to this end are rolled back or banned. 4) No nuclear weapons for Ukraine. 5) Caps on Ukraine's military. Far-right units are disbanded. 6) "Full guarantee of rights for Russian speakers." Russian becomes an official language. 7). Ban on "glorification and promoting of Nazism and neo-Nazism." Nationalist parties and groups are disbanded. 8) All western sanctions are lifted. No sanctions can be introduced in future either. 9) "Resolution of issues" with family reunification and displaced persons. 10) Both sides agree not to demand reparations. 11) Ukraine rolls back its restrictions on the Russian Orthodox Church. 12) Full restoration of diplomatic and economic relations, "including gas transit," as well as transport and "other ties, including with third countries." There are two paths to a ceasefire: Either: Ukraine withdraws from the four partially occupied regions within 30 days. Or: the "package option" – Ukraine does a bunch of other things first, including holding elections, and then withdraws from those regions later. All within 30 days. Russia's vision for Ukraine's future is pretty clear here: a rump state run by a quisling that accepts Moscow's diktat.